based on this interesting study - Antibody to a 63 kilodalton insect protein in ankylosing spondylitis

the study found that 46% of AS patients had raised antibodies to an insect protein compared to only 4% of controls. they also found antibodies against a heat shock protein from a bacteria from cows - "IgA antibodies to recombinant Mycobacterium bovis hsp65 were found in 41% of the serum samples from patients with AS by ELISA." in NZ M.bovis is also spread by possums and ferrets which account for 70% of new cow herd infections. It can sometimes be transmitted to humans via infected milk.

luckily i was already practising a no insect/dairy/possum/ferret diet. sometimes when riding my bike with my mouth open i occasionally ingest the odd insect but it hasn't lead to any major flare ups

There is just no way I would ever consider such a restricted diet. What would be left to live for?

Its not that bad! You do have to give up these type of meals


But you are allowed the occasional chocolate covered grasshopper as long as it is raw so it doesn't contain heat shock proteins (dairy free chocolate as well)

Wow that last picture is amazing, good thing I already had my dinner

Shoot jroc - JUST when I have a full carton of these beauties arrive in the post - right spoilt my supper now - no live grasshoppers? WWWAaaahhhhh Keep the chocolate (dislike) but my g'hoppers OOOhhhhhhhh

(Where 'do' they find these studies? What a....... <LOL>)

Thats funny, how do they come up with these things? You know what came to mind though, I'm the only one in my family that bugs don't bite. Mosquitos for example, everyone will come inside after playing outside allday with 10 bites and I will have none, they must not like my blood, or the bugs don't want to catch my arthritis.

Darn. Just when I thought I had my diet figured, someone has to come along and make me rethink my whole approach.

ust what I was going to say gbash - change diet to insects an bugs = cure arthritic conditions? (True word spoken in jest, what? <LOL>)

How do you like yr bugs sir, grilled or fried?

Molly, you're not paying attention. It's the NO insect/dairy/possum/ferret diet. Stop tempting people with those fried bugs!

Just testing...<LOL>